Former USJ-R volleyball player ascends throne as beauty queen
Cebu City’s Beatrice Gomez crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021
Cebuana athlete turned beauty queen Beatrice Luigi Gomez attained what is by far the biggest success of her stellar career after she was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2021 late Thursday night at the Hennan Resorts in Panglao, Bohol.
Gomez, 26, was a former member of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Lady Jaguars women’s volleyball team both in high school and college under the guidance of Cebu Sports Hall of Famer coach Grace Antigua in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).
“She (Gomez) was really a multi-talented person. During her volleyball days, kung naa mi tournament out of Cebu, she always bring something to read. Wide reader gyud na siya. No wonder na-abot na niya karon, “said Antigua, who is currently in Nakhon Ratchasima,Thailand serving as assistant coach of the Philippine women’s national team that is taking part in the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.
“She’s also very humble, down to earth and determined person. Kung naa siya sulod sa playing court, she will always find ways to make a point for the team,” Antigua continued. “Proud volleyball coach here. Naa na gyud volleyball player from Cebu na Miss U (Phl).”
In 2012, Gomez, who also loves boxing and scuba diving, was adjudged as Miss CESAFI and at the same time Mutya ng Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Central Visayas.
From there, it took her three years to reap another honor as second runner-up in Miss Mandaue 2015.
Representing San Fernando town, Gomez bested 54 other candidates to emerge as Binibining Cebu 2020 at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Making her mark in indoor volleyball, Gomez was also outstanding in beach volley - and a head turner too with her stunning good looks during the Visayas elimination of the Nestea Beach Volley National Championships organized by well-known event organizer, host and sportsman Ricky Ballesteros in Moalboal town south of Cebu back in 2013.
Ballesteros fondly recalled that Gomez was the one who carried the image of Sto. Niño as muse and volleyball mainstay of the Visayas contingent at the 2010 Milo Little Olympics National Finals in Cagayan de Oro City.
“I’ve known her during the Milo Little Olympics
Visayas in 2010. I think she was still 15 or 16 years old at that time. I noticed her because of her commanding beauty. That’s why I asked her to be the Team Visayas muse and Sto. Niño bearer during the parade. She also performed Sinulog dance during the opening of the 2010 MLO National Finals in CDO where Team Visayas won by a very slim margin of 1.5 points over Team NCR,” Ballesteros recounted.
“The last time I spoke to her was when we judged in Miss Bogo 2021 last May. I asked her to join Ms. Universe Philippines 2021 because she got it what it takes to be one because of her aura, height , beauty and brains,” Ballesteros furthered.
“She was still unsure at that time if she will join because of the current situation, it’s pandemic. She also mentioned about her plans to continue her athletic career by joining beach volley competitions in the future and even planning to team up with another beauty queen Apriel Smith, Bb. Cebu winner and former Miss Milo Little Olympics Visayas winner who’s also a volleyball player.”
Aside from the MLO National Finals, Gomez also competed in the Cebu City Olympics, then in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA), and eventually in the Palarong Pambansa, the mother of all competitions for school-based athletes across the country.
Gomez’s being an athlete runs in her blood.
Her father, Rodesendo “Lokdoy” Gomez, once suited up for the Cebu Technical School (CTS) Scanners basketball varsity squad in the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA), the precursor of the CESAFI, in late ‘90s. Lokdoy is the younger brother of ex-PBA cager Roel Gomez.
That makes Beatrice a niece of coach Roel and first cousin of the latter’s daughter Rizzini Alexis Gomez, the Aliwan Festival Queen 2010 and Miss Tourism International 2012 who died of lung cancer in 2015.
With her resounding victory at the MUP 2021, Beatrice Gomez made history as the first openly gay woman to clinch the coveted title. She now braces for a more daunting challenge of carrying the country’s tri-colors at the Miss Universe 2021 this December in Eilat, Israel.
“Now she’s Ms. U Phl, I would just like to wish her luck in her future endeavors, both as a beauty queen and as an athlete. May she serve as an inspiration to the youth, who aspires to be like her who is focused on achieving her dreams. I know she will make us proud in Miss Universe competition,” Ballesteros said.